September 26th, 2009
What’s the scoops on your background and what you did before you moved to Cape Hatteras?
Before I moved to Cape Hatteras, I was pretty much just studying and trying to learn to kite on the weekends in Michigan.
How did you get into kiteboarding and working with Real?
My buddy Brian Lefeve of Great Lakes Kiteboarding (Shameless plug) had been trying to get me into kiting back when you, Slezy and the rest for the original crew was getting into it. He would tell me stories every time I came into TWC (local wake/skate/snow shop) about how he got dragged around and yarded. Weird, but it really didn’t appeal to me 100% at that time, though the concept did, and besides I didn’t have the money for the gear. A few years later, when I was back home from school, I headed to the shop and he convinced me that the gear had come along way. So I bought into it, and started kiting. I took a 2 day camp and then proceeded to get my first setup and then took the 2 hour drive each way to the beach every weekend while I was still in MI. After graduating I didn’t want to go do the usual route so I was going to coach for a season before starting to work. I then found out they had my position open so I applied and here I am.
You’ve been living in Hatteras for a while now. What’s it like? How do you get thru the slow times when not much is going on?
Cape Hatteras is one of the coolest places. There are a couple months of the year that get pretty tough. The winter can be the worst if you let it. It averages 55 degrees and water close to the same. It’s still plenty warm for surfing, but kiting is a bit tougher. Kitesurfing is usually choice, as the sound gets much colder than the ocean in the winter, so wakestyle is put on the shelf for a few months. Ways to get around it, take trips with fellow riders to much warmer or much colder climates. Keep riding everyday. Hatteras is sessionable everyday it is just a matter of not getting too spoiled and getting out there. Lastly, find yourself a great girlfriend and a bunch of movies. The winter and the riding make you really appreciate Hatteras when it’s on. You really don’t appreciate how rad Hatteras is until you start traveling. Nearly every place I’ve gone in the last year has either had super sketchy launches, very inconsistent winds, coral or rocks etc. There really hasn’t been a place that compares to Hatteras, so though the winter can be rough the other 8 months of the year are pretty insane.
What's it like being so tall and lanky?
Ha. So true. I really picked all the wrong sports as a kid. Started off diving when I was in middle school then the next thing I know I’m in High School and am 6’5, not the best idea. The boardsports were the same way. It definitely is not an advantage being a big guy in kiting, wake, snow etc. But when you do make a trick work it can look pretty damn good.
What got you into photography?
Originally, it was my dad and grandfather who both had brief stints as photographers who introduced me to the camera. But it was shooting my friends snowboarding, then eventually kiting that lead me into starting to take things a little more seriously.
I know that it can be hard to get a good shot and sometimes thing's don't go as planned. Have you had any seriously bad experiences while doing a shoot?
Luckily things havn’t gone insanely bad, ..yet. But I have had a few shoots where you go through hours of setup, and the rider give it there all and nothing comes out. That is pretty frustrating for everyone. There is always the time were your gear almost goes for a swim or the memory card just decides to malfunction after an hour shoot. Shit really does just happens it’s just how you deal with it…
What’s in your gear bag?
Dang there’s a lot! Its been getting big a little too quickly for my liking.
Canon 40Ds
Canon 18-55mm IS f2.8
Canon 70-200mm IS f2.8
Canon 16-35mm IS f2.8
Canon 50mm f1.8
Tokina 10-17mm
a bunch of flashes, pocket wizards, cords and stands
and a SPL waterhousing
What is on the wish list for new gear?
Really nothing, I’m trying to minimize. It’s tough traveling with more than one gear bag. It would always be nice to have a better body or nicer flashes but what I have is working for me now so I’m pretty happy.
Any shout outs? or props?
My family and girlfriend are the best.
